We see quite a number of classic pickups coming across our desks here at Barn Finds, but super clean examples like this 1949 Ford F-1 are a rare treat. This is a vehicle that is in extremely impressive condition and would be well-suited to the person who is hunting for a classic that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. It is ready to head off to a new home, and the owner has priced this beauty very competitively. It is located in Polk City, Florida, and has been listed for sale here on Barn Finds classifieds. You can park the F1 in your driveway for a mere $15,500.

The Sea Island Green F-1 presents extremely nicely. The paint is consistent and has a nice shine to it, while the panels appear to be free of any noticeable dimples or dents. The vehicle looks to be completely rust-free. Vulnerable areas like the floors and cab corners are extremely solid, and if you check the gallery at the bottom of this article, you will find some photos of the Ford’s underside. The floors look clean enough to eat off. The wheels are painted in the correct body color, while the trim and chrome looks to be in good condition. The same would appear to be true of the majority of the glass, although the passenger side door glass does have a crack right at the top. This has been like this for quite some time, and it is showing no signs of deteriorating beyond its current level. The only aspect of the exterior that the new owner might want to treat with some TLC is the timber in the bed. A couple of pieces are warped and some of the pieces are looking a bit blackened. I would be inclined to remove than and run them through a buzz-plane to return them to a flat and clean look, and then apply a fresh coat of a polyurethane finish. This would have them presenting perfectly once again, and the outlay would be very minimal.

Looking around inside the Ford reveals that the next owner is going to have nothing to do there. The painted surfaces all appear to be spotless, while the vinyl on the seats and door trims seems to be fairly new. The gauges look clean and crisp, with no clouding of the glass, or discoloring of the gauge faces. I’m pretty sure that the rubber mat on the floor is also quite new, and while there aren’t a lot of luxury features to speak of, the heater would be a welcome touch on those colder days. Even the steering wheel looks really good, with no signs of any wear or cracking. With the gear shifter on the column, this F-1 is a true three-seater.

Lifting the hood of the F-1 reveals a tidy and clean 226ci flathead 6-cylinder engine, backed by a 3-speed manual transmission. While this engine might only produce 95hp, its great strength lies in its impressive torque figures. What you get is 180 ft/lbs of torque at an impressively low 1,200rpm. That makes it a very tractable vehicle to drive, and means that it is capable of carting its ½-ton payload pretty easily from very low engine speeds in relatively high gears. In the quest for originality, the Ford retains a very healthy 6-volt electrical system, and the owner states that everything works as it should. The motor starts easily, the F-1 drives well, the transmission shift smoothly, while the brakes pull the vehicle up straight and true. Looking at the photos of the vehicle’s underside indicates that there are no fluid leaks for the next owner to contend with. In addition, the F-1 rolls on a new set of period-correct Firestone tires. Put all of these factors together, and this old classic is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately.

This 1949 Ford F-1 Pickup is an extremely nice vehicle, and it would appear that the new owner is going to score themselves a classic that is ready to be driven and enjoyed immediately. The only item that the next owner might want to address is the finish of the timber on the bed, but that will be a very inexpensive and straightforward task. Beyond that, it seems to need nothing. It is possible to find the occasional relatively tidy example today for around $17,000, but an F-1 in that sort of price range will generally have some rust issues to be addressed. It would appear that this one hasn’t been afflicted with those sorts of issues. However, from that figure of $17,000, values can shoot off into the stratosphere, and I have seen really nice original examples that have fetched sums in excess of $50,000. At the asking price of $15,500, this one looks like it would be an extremely good buy, so it is to be hoped that someone buys this F-1 who is going to appreciate what a great old classic this is.